The New York Knicks are hot, playing well, getting
wins, creating excitement and are in the Eastern conference playoff mix. InsideHoops.com
met with Dikembe Mutomo to discuss the team's success, and with new Knick Tim
Thomas to talk about getting traded. These are brief mini-interviews from Madison
Square Garden.

InsideHoops.com: You guys are winning so much lately,
it seems like the entire team is playing better, individually and together.

Dikembe Mutombo: I think we're getting contributions from a lot of guys,
from the bench and the starters, and that's what's helping us right now.

InsideHoops.com: What changed?

Dikembe Mutombo: I think mentally, that's the only thing that changed on
us, for the fact that we want to get in the playoffs so bad. And we're asking
for contributions from everybody. And the coach told us, it's going to take one
game at a time and every game becoming so important to us.

Dikembe Mutombo: Because the pressure is on us, to make the playoffs. This
city's been waiting for the playoffs, and we have to give to them.

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InsideHoops.com: Did you have a feeling that you
were going to be traded? There was a lot of talk about it, recently.

Tim Thomas: No, you don't listen to the rumors. But, you know, when it happened I was very excited that it was an opportunity for me to come back home and be a part of this organization. As a child I grew up watching the New York Knicks, so I'm very excited at being a part of this organization.

InsideHoops.com: Where were you when you found out you were traded? And who told you it was done?

Tim Thomas: I was in the middle of traveling. I was in Miami, and in the middle of traveling and found out about it. It really didn't matter who told me, I was really excited about the opportunity of coming back home. I got a call from my agent, and he told me I was moved here to New York, so, it's a great opportunity and I'm going to take advantage of it.